diff --git a/Modules/GenerateExportHeader.cmake b/Modules/GenerateExportHeader.cmake
index 781b6e7d4..f3f61f6ee 100644
--- a/Modules/GenerateExportHeader.cmake
+++ b/Modules/GenerateExportHeader.cmake
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ macro(_test_compiler_hidden_visibility)
         _gcc_version "${_gcc_version_info}")
     endif()
 
-    if(${_gcc_version} VERSION_LESS "4.2")
+    if("${_gcc_version}" VERSION_LESS "4.2")
       set(GCC_TOO_OLD TRUE)
       message(WARNING "GCC version older than 4.2")
     endif()